10.03.05

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-4769)

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

STATUS REPORT: S-100305

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT

Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing 
Status Reports each week, and is the source for information regarding 
processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This 
report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future 
Space Shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would 
like further information, visit 
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html. 

Discovery (OV-103)

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) 
Payload: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module 
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 
Launch Date: NET March 2006 
Launch Pad: 39B 
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Discovery is in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 with processing 
under way for the second space shuttle return to flight test mission 
(STS-121). Post-flight window inspections continue. Thermography and 
eddy current inspections are complete on the left-hand reinforced 
carbon-carbon panels, with eddy current work continuing on the 
right-hand wing.

Following removal of the main engines, technicians began eddy current 
and ultrasonic inspections of the flow liners. The inspections ensure 
no microscopic cracks are present in the line that carries liquid 
hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the external tank to the main engines 
during launch. Auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks 
continue. 

External Tank

External Tank 119, the third redesigned shuttle fuel tank, arrived at 
the NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans Sunday for 
modification. Workers will off-load it today and begin limited 
testing. The external tank team will determine the necessary work 
prior to the next flight. During the last review, managers discussed 
plans to remove and replace protuberance air load ramps. 

Atlantis (OV-104)

Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) 
Payload: P3/P4 Solar Arrays 
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 
Launch Date: TBD 
Launch Pad: 39B 
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Atlantis is being processed for a mission to the International Space 
Station. Thermal barrier inspections of the landing gear doors are 
complete. Forward reaction control system wire inspections are 
finished in preparation for installing the system in about one month. 
The microwave scanning beam landing system inspections have been 
performed. 

Endeavour (OV-105)

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, orbiter Endeavour's electrical 
system was partially powered up last Tuesday after nearly two years. 
Full power-up is scheduled for Oct. 6. During Endeavour's 
modification period, 124 were completed, including installing the new 
Multi-Functional Electronic Display System. More than 150 miles of 
wiring were inspected and 1,000 thermal tiles were bonded. This was 
the second full modification conducted at Kennedy. 

Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the 
Internet at: 

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight



For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit: 




http://www.nasa.gov/

	
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